Tim Dunfee

ALT An infographic from the National Weather Service Amarillo titled "Today’s Expected Wind Gusts" for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The graphic provides a detailed forecast of peak wind speeds across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Wind Gust Timeline A data table on the left lists 15 cities (including Amarillo, Dalhart, and Boise City) with hourly wind gust forecasts from 9 AM to 11 PM. Peak Intensity: The highest gusts are predicted between 1 PM and 4 PM. Highest Values: Dalhart and Boise City show the most severe conditions, with peak gusts of 54 mph and 53 mph respectively, highlighted in dark orange. General Trend: Most locations see a significant increase in wind speed during the afternoon, tapering off slightly after 6 PM. Most Likely Max Wind Gusts Map On the right, a color-coded regional map visualizes the maximum expected gusts: Dark Orange (50-55 mph): Northwest corner, including Dalhart and Boise City. Orange/Yellow (40-50 mph): Central-north areas like Stratford, Dum

ALT An infographic from the National Weather Service Amarillo titled "Critical Fire Weather Conditions Today" for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The graphic warns of an extreme wildfire threat across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Regional Wildfire Threat Map The map shows the entire Panhandle region under a heightened fire danger: Extreme Threat (Level 3): Most of the region is shaded in dark orange, indicating an "Extreme" threat level. Specific Risk Areas: A dashed line separates the region into two numbered zones. Zone 2 (Central and Western Panhandle, including Amarillo and Dalhart) is at a higher threat level than Zone 1 (Southeastern Panhandle, including Wellington and Clarendon). What to Expect & Timing Environmental Factors: Southwest to west winds are forecast to gust between 35 to 55 mph alongside very dry conditions. Wildfire Behavior: There is an increased potential for wildfire starts, and any fires that do start may spread quickly.

ALT Mid day update from NWS Amarillo highlighting the central and eastern combined Panhandles for increasing fire weather conditions this afternoon.